If the Timberwolves make a trade before the NBA’s Feb. 18 trade deadline, Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said the deal would be “modest” and would not involve any of the team’s “core players.”

Based on playing time and productivity, the Wolves’ core players are forwards Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Ryan Gomes and Damien Wilkins, and guards Jonny Flynn, Corey Brewer, Ramon Sessions and Wayne Ellington.

A modest deal, according to Kahn, would be a move that gives the Wolves more talent off the bench at forward or center.

“No question, we need more length and athleticism on the front line to complement Al and Kevin,” Kahn said before Sunday’s 112-91 victory over the New York Knicks.

Kahn has maintained from the start that he would prefer to go through the season without making a deal involving the team’s key players. Because of the economy, with NBA teams cutting staff and other expenses, Kahn is not expecting a flurry of major trades before the deadline.

“A lot of teams are battling slumping attendance, as we are,” Kahn said.

The Wolves entered Sunday’s game ranked 25th in the league in attendance (14,549).

Love adjusting to new role: Love got a pep talk from Wolves assistant coach Bill Laimbeer to help adjust to his new role of coming off the bench.

Love had started 20 games since recovering from a broken bone in his left hand and became the Wolves’ leading rebounder (11.8) and No. 2 scorer (15.3) behind Jefferson (17.8). Love might continue coming off the bench with the improved play of Ryan Hollins, who had 16 points and three rebounds Sunday.

“Coach (Laimbeer) talked to me a lot about the situation,” Love said. “He said I would be getting the same amount of minutes. Ryan and Al have been playing great.”

Love played a team-high 31 minutes Sunday, finishing with a career-high 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

Long working break: The Wolves don’t play again until Friday at Dallas. The five-day break, the Wolves’ longest of the season, will not give the players any extra down time this week.

“We’re going to practice every day,” Wolves coach Kurt Rambis said.

The Wolves plan to leave for Dallas on Wednesday and practice there later that day.

Briefly: Backup center Nathan Jawai rejoined the Wolves for Sunday’s game after a four-day visit to his native Australia to tend to a family matter.

Jawai was inactive for the sixth consecutive game.

Brewer’s three-pointer in the first quarter extended his streak to six consecutive games with at least one three. Brewer was 1 for 3 from three-point range Sunday; he is 14 of 30 during his streak.

Flynn’s eight rebounds Sunday were a career-high.

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